Your Success Toolkit

How to succeed at the University of Canterbury

Help and support are always available to help you succeed because we believe that all UC students can be successful. It’s up to you to find your way around the support, advice and services on offer. Success at UC is about being proactive, and involved.

We know from research and from working with many students over the years that certain conditions will increase your likelihood of success at university.

You are more likely to succeed at UC if you feel a sense of belonging. In other words, find your niche and get to know like-minded people with similar interests. During Orientation week we welcome you to become part of our diverse UC community. In the weeks following Orientation you can continue to make new friends by joining clubs and attending UC events.

Your chances of success are bound to increase if you find meaning and purpose in your studies. For this reason, UC has developed a wide range of applied-learning programmes that take you out of the classroom and into the real-world. Balance your time between the classroom and non-curricular activities.

You are more likely to succeed if you devote a significant amount of time and energy to both the classroom and non-curricular activities. Aim for a balanced student experience by seeking educational opportunities beyond the classroom.

Your success will be strengthened by human interaction and collaboration. Establishing valuable connections and networks is an important part of your UC student experience. For this reason, we offer a range of events, services, systems, and spaces to foster conversation and collaboration between students and staff. We want you to feel confident in interacting with others.

You are more likely to succeed when you make time to reflect on what you are learning, and how your UC experiences are transforming you. Together, we can use your own thoughts and ideas about your journey to make sure that you reach your personal and academic goals.

You are more likely to succeed if you learn to be mindful of how you learn and think, and what your unique values and beliefs are. We want you to start and continue your course of study confidently and that means helping you understand and implement your own unique learning requirements. With the help of UC staff you’ll be able to learn and apply the learning strategies that are most effective for you and this will allow you to be in control of your own academic progress.